WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When Washington manicurist Lidia Schaefer returned to her native village in Ethiopia , she was troubled by what she saw : children walking three hours each way to attend classes held not in a school , but under a tree .

Lidia Schaefer sold her house and car and set aside tips and part of her salary to raise money for the school .

When she learned in 1998 that one of the girls she 'd met -- Medhine -- had been attacked and killed by a hyena after falling behind other children during the long trek home from school , Schaefer knew she had to act .

She began setting aside a third of her salary and all of her tips , and later sold her house and car , to raise enough money to build a school for the village .

`` She 's definitely not your average manicurist , '' says Denise Abrahams , a longtime client .

`` This is the kind of thing that you hear about Oprah Winfrey doing . '' Do you know a hero ? Nominations are open at CNN.com / Heroes

For Schaefer , it was simply a matter of doing what felt right . `` I do n't work with my head , '' she says . `` I really work with my heart . '' Watch Schaefer 's clients and colleagues discuss her efforts ''

Born in Feres Mai , a large village in northern Ethiopia , Schaefer moved to the United States in the mid-1970s when civil war broke out at home .

During her troubling visit back home in the '90s , she recalls , `` I promised the children I was going to open a school for them . ''

But she had no idea how to tackle such a big project , especially while raising her own two children and working 12-hour days , six days a week . Watch Schaefer speak with CNN 's Larry King ''

The motivation to fulfill her promise came with the news of Medhine 's death . `` That really pushed me to do it , '' she says , `` to build a school so that would n't happen again . ''

Schaefer lobbied the Ethiopian government to donate land in a central location so the school could serve children from several nearby villages . The decision was made to build a secondary school , since the nearest one was more than 18 miles away .

Back in Washington , Schaefer began setting aside money for construction of the school .

`` I was working two days for the school , four days for me , '' she recalls . Her clients and co-workers rallied to help , holding raffles and making contributions . Several clients bought individual doors or windows for the school . Watch Schaefer talk about the school ''

But Schaefer realized it would n't be enough . To finish the school , she needed to do something drastic . In 2002 , she gave up her symbols of the American dream , selling her home and car . It 's a sacrifice that still stuns her colleagues and friends .

`` I could n't believe it , '' remembers salon manager Patty Gonzalez . But Schaefer saw nothing remarkable about her decision . `` I do n't feel like I -LSB- gave -RSB- up a lot , '' she says . `` I want -LSB- the children -RSB- to learn , to get something out of their life . ''

Schaefer ultimately raised more than $ 250,000 for the school , which was completed in 2006 . When she went back for the dedication , Schaefer was honored with an elaborate procession through the village . For her , it was gratifying to see what she 'd accomplished .

`` I was so happy , I ca n't even describe it , '' she recalls .

Today , nearly 1,500 students are educated in the school , which boasts an eight-building campus with 16 classrooms , a science lab and library .

`` It 's simple , but it 's nice , '' Schaefer says . Though she 'd hoped to name the school in memory of Medhine , the government -- which runs the school -- instead named it the Lidia Secondary School , telling Schaefer , `` We want it to be your name so that more people -LSB- will -RSB- be like you . ''

Schaefer has indeed inspired many others to follow her example . When Ethiopian communities around the United States heard about what she 'd been able to achieve , they launched an effort to build more schools in her region of northern Ethiopia . So far , they 've raised enough money to build 12 schools , due to be completed by July 2009 .

Schaefer still sets aside her tips and wages to support her school and has kept up her fundraising efforts to buy supplies . A colleague at the salon designed T-shirts to raise money for desks for the students . Schaefer 's next goal is to equip the school with computers .

`` They need computers so they can talk to the whole world , '' she says .

Her colleagues and clients say Schaefer serves as an important reminder that people do n't need money or power to make a difference .

`` She 's very inspiring to me , '' says Gonzalez . `` I 've learned from Lidia that even if the project is big , if your heart is in it , you can do it . ''

Want to get involved ? Check out Lidia Schaefer 's Web site and see how to help .

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D.C. manicurist raised more than $ 250,000 to build school in native Ethiopia

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Inspiration came after seeing children walk three hours to classes held under tree

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Girl killed by hyena while walking home motivated Lidia Schaefer to fulfill promise

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Do you know a hero ? Nominations are open at CNN.com / Heroes